As part of the requirements for our class in 'Socio-Cultural Foundations of Education', the whole students of the Master in Education (M.Ed.) program of the University of the Philippines Visayas went to Sitio Balagon, Barangay Badiang, in the municipality of Anilao, Iloilo to see for ourselves how our Ati brothers and sisters live their lives in general, and strive to get education in particular.
It was one Saturday in January of 2011, the day the whole Iloilo City was celebrating the Kasadyahan Festival. While everybody was heading downtown to revel, we were going the other way, to the town of Anilao which is located in the 4th congressional district of Iloilo Province.
Anilao is a 4th class municipality. According to the latest census, it has a population of around 35,000 people. It is politically subdivided into 21 barangays, one of which is Barangay Badiang.
We gathered at Andoks across from Jaro Plaza. Our assembly time was at 6AM. We waited for our companions a little more and by 7AM, we left Iloilo City in a hired van. There were around 10 of us in the van, including our professors, Dr. Aurora Fe Bautista and Prof. Donnie Jonne Sodusta.
It was a one-hour drive up the coast from Leganes to Anilao. The town is 45 kilometers away from Iloilo City. I just slept along the way and we were a bit overcrowded. It was hard to concentrate sleeping but I managed to get some Zss nevertheless.
Just before we reached the town proper, the van took a left turn and drove through a dirt road lined with corn plantations. Not long after, we reached a dead end and we were asked to get out. We were met by the village chieftain, as well as the chairman of Barangay Badiang.
A group of school kids in their traditional attire lined both sides of the walkway to welcome us. They were chanting using the language I could not understand. We were led to a small covered gathering place decorated by flowers and potted plants.
A program was prepared by the Atis with the help of the members of the Taytay sa Kauswagan, Inc. The organization has been helping this indigenous community for years now. They have organized numerous livelihood projects for them in order to 'bridge the gap between poverty and progress,' the company's motto.
During the doxology, the school children did an interpretative dance. It was a beautiful interpretation of the 'Lord's Prayer.' The village chieftain, as well as the barangay captain of Brgy. Badiang, gave their respective welcome speeches. What they said united and brought all of us together in the common purpose at the heart of the visit - being one with them.
After the welcome program, we went around the village to interview the locals. The first house that I visited was the house of the chieftain. I was accommodated by his wife and his daughter. The house was made of very light materials very typical of rural Philippines. It is called 'kamalig' in the vernacular, a type of stilt house indigenous to the vast majority of the Filipinos.
I asked the chieftain's daughter several questions about their culture, their means of living, as well as their modes of education. She was happy to tell me that she had gone to college and that she did a lot of volunteer work in order to uplift the condition of her community. She believed that the only way for her fellow Atis to survive and go up is to be educated. She was happy that our group came to see them and learn more about their deplorable situation.
After talking to the village chieftain's daughter, I went around and one boy caught my attention. I had seen him earlier at the doxology. I approached him and asked if I could interview him. He gladly yielded. I learned that his name was Iko and he was 11 years old. He's in third grade. By the way he talked, I could sense that Iko was a smart kid.
Just before we reached the town proper, the van took a left turn and drove through a dirt road lined with corn plantations. Not long after, we reached a dead end and we were asked to get out. We were met by the village chieftain, as well as the chairman of Barangay Badiang.
A group of school kids in their traditional attire lined both sides of the walkway to welcome us. They were chanting using the language I could not understand. We were led to a small covered gathering place decorated by flowers and potted plants.
A program was prepared by the Atis with the help of the members of the Taytay sa Kauswagan, Inc. The organization has been helping this indigenous community for years now. They have organized numerous livelihood projects for them in order to 'bridge the gap between poverty and progress,' the company's motto.
During the doxology, the school children did an interpretative dance. It was a beautiful interpretation of the 'Lord's Prayer.' The village chieftain, as well as the barangay captain of Brgy. Badiang, gave their respective welcome speeches. What they said united and brought all of us together in the common purpose at the heart of the visit - being one with them.
After the welcome program, we went around the village to interview the locals. The first house that I visited was the house of the chieftain. I was accommodated by his wife and his daughter. The house was made of very light materials very typical of rural Philippines. It is called 'kamalig' in the vernacular, a type of stilt house indigenous to the vast majority of the Filipinos.
I asked the chieftain's daughter several questions about their culture, their means of living, as well as their modes of education. She was happy to tell me that she had gone to college and that she did a lot of volunteer work in order to uplift the condition of her community. She believed that the only way for her fellow Atis to survive and go up is to be educated. She was happy that our group came to see them and learn more about their deplorable situation.
After talking to the village chieftain's daughter, I went around and one boy caught my attention. I had seen him earlier at the doxology. I approached him and asked if I could interview him. He gladly yielded. I learned that his name was Iko and he was 11 years old. He's in third grade. By the way he talked, I could sense that Iko was a smart kid.
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